Aug 6, 2009
Shuttle fights foam damage
Engineers say the shuttle foam will now stay put.
Engineers hope and expect no foam damage during the next shuttle launch.
Foam falling from the external fuel tanks has been an ongoing problem. In 2003, foam hit and damaged the protective tiles on the shuttle Columbia—destroying the spacecraft and killing the crew.
Engineers at the Marshall Space Flight Center say new adhesive should prevent foam from falling off the 15-story tall SRB (solid rocket booster) tanks. If this works, it’s good news for the crew of STS-128 and Endeavor. And all future crews of shuttle flights.
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